‘Moving forward’ has become somewhat of a famous saying in recent times, however, have we really thought about what the future holds if we continue down the same path.

Wages continue to rise as the cost of living increases, but is this sustainable ‘long term’.

Food is one of our critical necessities and, although production costs are ever increasing, consumer driven pressures, wether by lack of sales, or cheap imports, is forever holding prices back. The simple fact is that the consumer, not the retailer, determines food prices.

Take a watermelon. Often sold for 29c per kilo, about $2.00.

Now they sold for this ten years ago yet they dare not ripen on a Sunday or public holiday, as the farmer can’t afford the wages to pick them.

End result, either stop growing them or import them. Either way, jobs are lost.

IR laws are hitting farmers and retailers hard.

Produce sales at markets are huge, yet, do you really think the Asians manning these stands pay the correct rates of wages, or give a toss about loading on a Sunday. I doubt many even pay the correct taxes; yet, our unions seem hell bent on only harassing the legit business, while ignoring these operators.

Now I accept that when the cost of living rises, people require more to live, but is this sustainable moving forward.

Now I’m not talking about tomorrow, or next year, look at 20 or 30 years from now where farmers will be paying something like $50 per hour, normal rates if wages increase by just 3% per annum. Sundays or P/H, don’t even go there.

Remember, this is only one cost.

What effects will that have on food production?

China knows, that’s why they’re buying our farmlands.

The population sceptics say ‘don’t worry, we won’t run out of food as we export 65% of what we produce’, derr! This is what helps drive our economy. Stop selling this, then what. Remember, 30 years from now most resources may well be gone. Then what!

Moving forwards is a HUGE CHALLENGE that may well involve moving backwards

Your racism undermines any validity in the rest of your argument.

Get used to it rechtub we are about to re elect the ALP.

Mikk, surely you're not suggesting I am wrong here with regards to the market stalls.

Boy that's a brave move!

What! Not the usual 'increased majority crap'Belly,now as for your response, well that's almost an admition of guilt from you that you don't care a less, don't you think!

Unfortunately though, it is typicle of a unionist. Screw the boss for whatever you can, holding little regard for the generations to follow.

So, do you think we have a sustainable IR system?

Or are you simply going to turn to the usual 'name calling', making me out to be the big bad oga.

Facts are facts mate, best we all give this some serious consideration.

Now as for the election, we, the people, have already lost.

You see the current coalition is a mere fragment of its former self and, the labor that beat the former coalition is fighting just to defeat this depleted colalition.

Yet another race to the bottom. Nothing to be proud about old mate.

Wow, so Asians are dishonest in business according to you. Nice.

Ok, let's just look at that for a moment.

Do you really think that these stall opperators pay 2&1/2 times the nomal rate of pay on a sunday while almost giving away thier goods.

I for one very much doubt it, what do you think?

Now you are simply trying to make this thread into a racist debate. Good try, but your ploy won't work on me.

So let's look beyond the asians. Take the recent ekka in brisbane.

Are we to assume all these stall opperators toed the IR line on the public holiday and sunday?

Are we also to assume each and every one of them passes on all the GST that was paid over the ten days of the show?

My point is not one of rascisum, that's your point. My point is that the unions appear to want nothing what so ever to do with these opperators.

Incidently, illegal operations of small businesses is rife and, will be one of the few ways businesses will be able to survive, moving forward. They simply will not be able to afford to pay ligit wages and remain competetive, and that's a crying shame.

Belly writes:

<< Get used to it rechtub we are about to re elect the ALP. >>

Yep. We are going to be moving backwards for at least another few years!

With nothing but honest true respect.
True respect.
Rechtub and others stop the childish rubbish that I do not understand.
Do not care,do not value my vote.
What ever my education let me tell you I am no dill.

I read most states papers wander around news sites listen not to music but news radio am informed.
Now rechtub think with me here, can it be that you are always right I wrong?
And how silly come stupid, to defame over 50% of this country's voters who after two party preferred will return Labor on Saturday.
HIGH FIBER Tony is not game to debate money and you are blinded to why he is hiding?
Balance please.

I understand that Mark Latham is imploring people to put in a blank ballot paper, as the ultimate protest vote.

This is what I’ve been saying for a long time – vote for no one if you don’t think that anyone deserves your vote. Don’t vote for the ever-so slightly lesser of two fundamentally flawed evils!

Yes, Gillard is about to be elected. But I wonder how many of those who vote for her will actually be supporting her rather than thinking of her as the very slightly better candidate within a very dismal choice. And I wonder how many people feel obligated to vote for either Lab or Lib, and haven’t even thought about voting for on one?

In short, where on earth is the sense of balance in this election??

How can we possibly move forward when the powers that be seem to be loathe to even mention the fact that voters have the perfect democratic right to vote for no one?

I wonder how long it will be before Gillard starts saying that she has a mandate to do all the things that she said she would do in her election campaign, because the majority of people voted for her?

She will have NO mandate to do anything!

rehctub

I have known many people working for cash payments and none of their employers are Asians.
Any employer who defrauds their employees or the taxpayer is to be condemned. There are plenty of examples of white employers doing this.
So why (aside from racism) do you focus on the few Asians who own/run produce stands? Ill bet a lot of them are sole traders or family businesses and dont even have any employees to pay on weekends and public holidays.

Do you seriously expect us to believe that a watermelon not picked on Sunday will be ruined on Monday. Get you're hand off it!

If your business cannot cope with paying the prevailing wage then you are not in a viable, productive business and I suggest you wind it up and go out and become a wage slave like the rest of us. Then you might have a different perspective on unions and IR laws and the protections and benefits they bring to workers.

Belly your predictions do get up peoples nose. Why do you do it? If that's your wish just to annoy, go for it, but if not, try another tack.

Just a few weeks ago you were bleating how Rudd would be returned with an increased majority, just as meaninglessly. Why? Is it a case of wishful thinking, or are you trying to reassure yourself?

I am sure there are some people, who read these pages, who will vote against your party, in the hope they will prove you wrong.

No not me. I will never give anyone that power over my choice, even in the negative, but I'm sure it does happen.

I may be wrong there, I may have given little Julie that power over my vote, although that may not be the reason.

Mikk>> Ill bet a lot of them are sole traders or family businesses and dont even have any employees to pay on weekends and public holidays.

Firstly,I used the asian market traders as a 'prime example'. There are many who do this, Aussies to.

Secondly, these new IR laws have in effect negated any protection of family member employees. Sunday rates must apply.

>>Do you seriously expect us to believe that a watermelon not picked on Sunday will be ruined on Monday. Get you're hand off it!

This is exactly what I am implying, tomatoes, zuccinis as well, all must be picked when ready or they will not make it to the market as '1st grade'. In fact, during 'peak season', tomatoes are often picked 'twice daily'.

Did you know a zuccini can grow as much as 1&1/2 inches per day. That means if they are not picked when ready, the next day they can be worth as little as half to the farmer as they are considered 'to large' for retail.

Now tomatoes are something that most farmers make a loss on most of the season, then, if and when 'peak season' arrives, they make a killing.

I don't know the break down now, but back in the early 90's, tomatoes fetched around $4.50 per case for farmers, yet cost around $7.50 to produce, then, once peak season arrived, they fetched as much as $45.00 per case. Usually for a period of around 7 to 10 weeks. This is when they recouped thier losses and made thier money.

Nowdays, the cost of the case and freight alone maybe about $4.50.

Watermellons. Their is a sience in growing them, esspecially picking them at their 'peak'. Beleive me, a day either side will effect the eating quaility.

I learned this from an old farmer friend who at 74, had been growing them since he was 9 years old. I would suggest he was an expert.

Having said tha, perhaps this level of fussiness has gone due to cost retrictions, evidence of which is often found in poor eating qualities.

Continued

Mikk, continued
Like it or not, the bottome line is that our farmers feed us and 'top up' our economy, both interstate and internationally. IR restrictions have and will impact heavily.

Many back packers, very wealthy by the way, may well change thier plans as they relied heavily on fruit picking as a source of 'top up' income while travling. Many fruit growers today simply can't afford the wages and restrictions impossed on them now.

Believe me, the new IR laws stink, essecially when you have two people in agreeance (employer/employee) and a third standing in the way.

Finnaly, just remember, food prices, esspecially fresh produce, are set by the consumer, not the producer.

If and when the price gets to high, the consumer finds and alternative,(potatoes and onions excluded as they are 'staple foods') albeit canned or frozen, or another item altogether, often made from cheap imports, often from counties who have little regards for the wellbeing of their employees.

Don't beleive me, re-visit this area in a year or so, then we will see who 'has their hand on it'!

Yet another thread ended by actual facts, not insults.

Interesting to note on wednesdays forum, that the Pm came to the stage holding a cup ot tea.

Now when you actually think about this, it takes about 2 minutes to make that cup of tea, or, approximately 65cents in labor cost.

Now, consider this, why on earth should it cost the business owner approximately $1.60, on a sunday, to make the exact same cup of tea.

This is where the Ir restrictions are laughable. Same product cost, 2.5 times the labor cost.

Trouble is, the 'bain washed' labor supporters just don't get it, do you!

I say again, moving forwards may well mean we are moving backwards.